Established in 1912, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary stretches across southern Alberta. The diocese is led by Bishop William T. McGrattan. Our mission of “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep.” drives everything we do to spread the Gospel of Christ to Southern Alberta. Charitable B/N: 10790-9939-RR0076

Our Diocese is a thriving Body of Faithful Catholics with events happening all around Southern Alberta designed to help those in need, build our knowledge of the faith and sometimes to simply provide some much needed fun! Check out the links on this page to find out what’s going on.

A diocese, from the Greek term of dioikeîn meaning to keep house, administer, govern, exists to ensure the Faithful within its boundaries have access to everything they need to practice their Faith in a meaningful way. The Diocese of Calgary does this by providing various ministries and offices to serve the 450,000 Catholics in Southern Alberta.

At the core of our Catholicism is a deep and abiding Faith in Christ. We hope these pages will provide useful and informative resources to you whether you are new to the concept of Christianity or a lifetime member of the Church.

Our Faith is lived out in our day to day lives. The navigation of this journey can often require support, education or simple encouragement. These pages will show you the way the Diocese is ready to walk alongside you as we journey through life together.

Has one of our Diocesan programs impacted your life and inspired you to contribute? Do you wish to contribute to a current disaster relief project? Are you planning an estate and need some information about including your parish or the Diocese in your will? These pages will help you in your mission to give. Thank you for your support.

Bishop's Blog

In much of the secular media Prime Minister Paul Martin is frequently described as a “devout Catholic.” However, his recently clarified position re abortion and same sex unions is a source of scandal in the Catholic community and reflects a fundamental moral incoherence.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith offered guidance relative to the role religious faith should play in the ‘public square’ or in the governing of modern democratic society in its “Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life (November 24, 2002).

The Note is a reminder to Catholic politicians of their duty to be morally coherent: “There cannot be two parallel lives in their existence: on the one hand the so-called ‘spiritual life,’ with its values and demands; and on the other, the so-called ‘secular’ life, that is, life in family, at work .... in the responsibilities of public life and in culture.” (Note, 6)

In undertaking any public initiative, it is morally incoherent to leave out completely one’s own fundamental convictions, whether for noble or pragmatic reasons. The truth regarding the human person and our obligations to uphold this truth do not change when we leave the security of our homes and venture into the secular or political sphere. In all that he or she does, the Catholic politician must work to proclaim and put into action the truth about man and the world.

Rights are rooted in the dignity of the human person, a dignity bestowed upon the human person by God. From this perspective there is no right to have an abortion. No Catholic can responsibly take a ‘pro-choice’ stand when the ‘choice’ in question involves the taking of innocent life.

Nor is there a right of couples in same sex unions to marry. One cannot invent a meaning of sexuality to suit one’s own wishes or tastes. Marriage is a union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

All Catholic politicians, including the Prime Minister, would do well to imitate the example of St. Thomas More, who by his life and death taught that man cannot be separated from God, nor politics from morality. In him, there was no sign of a split between faith and culture, between timeless principles and daily life, but rather a convergence of political commitment.

While serving all, More knew well how to serve his king, that is the state, but above all wanted to serve God - “The king’s good servant, but God’s first.”